NoviusInfernalBerserk's Blog

Hey guys! This post is basically a fantasy oriented post about fictional warriors and berserkers in general. It explains why I actually prefer the slim/athletic/realistic version of my warrior in Guild Wars 2 nowadays and why I sometimes switch to the bigger version regardless, but it will use "The Radiant Hero" - Ike of Fire Emblem Path of Radiance/Radiant Dawn as an example for a general point I want to make about warriors and berserkers. I recently created this post for a fire emblem group, but it was deleted, because I was partly using AI as a tool in order to put my thoughts in order, so the post would become more efficient in communication, while ultimately stating nothing but my own points and thoughts. So here's the thing: I do not use AI in order to enhance the depth of posts or out of lazyness, I only use it as a mirror, source of knowledge and in order to make my posts more readable, because in my personal case, my neurodivergent structure makes me often lose myself in details and write a lot of stuff that isn't truly necessary in order to make a point. Since I was partly insulted, while everyone argued on me using AI out of lazyness without arguing on the actual topic, I will now get rid of those facebook groups and instead share my thoughts only on my personal social media profiles. I don't really mind being argued against or even insulted, but being deleted always erases any possibility for meaningful conversation, exchange and making points. I don't really like being at the mercy of strangers when it comes to sharing my opinion.

Overscaling in Anime Games: Why Ike is probably not 190 cm/6'3"-6'4" and 90+kg/200+lbs. - I use Ike as an example because he served as one of my fictional role models when I was kid. He's partly the reason why I love warriors and berserkers so much. While it is indisputable that Ike grows into an incredibly imposing character in the sequel, I personally think that people's assumption on his physical dimensions is highly overestimated. In my opinion, applying real-world logic, historical context, and the actual gameplay mechanics of the Tellius games reveals that a much more grounded, realistic scale makes far more sense for the setting of a medieval fantasy game. First of all, the common fan theory that puts Ike at nearly 6'4" relies heavily on pixel-scaling in-game 3D models or measuring official 1/7 scale merchandise (like the Good Smile Company statues). In my opinion, this methodology is fundamentally flawed: Visual Overdraw/Exaggeration: Video game developers do not design 3D models with strict metric sheets in mind. They alter proportions to fit the user interface, maintain visual balance, and ensure smooth combat animations. People often assume an unverified starting value - such as claiming Titania must be 180 cm/5'11" - and then uses that baseline to measure everyone else. If the baseline is off by just a few centimeters, the entire theory collapses though. When it comes to character archetypes, Ike is a Versatile Hero, Not a Tank. Ike's core identity in PoR and RD is that of a Ranger and a Hero. While he acquires heavier, berserker traits later on, he was never meant to be a classic, slow-moving berserker archetype. Ike's gameplay kit relies heavily on speed, high avoidance, and quick double-attacks. He's definitely strong, but also agile and a massive 90-100 kg/200-220 lbs frame does not match an agile swordsman who routinely dodges lance thrusts. Genuine heavy armor knights like Gatrie or the Black Knight are the actual human walls of the setting. If Ike were truly 191 cm/6'3", Gatrie would have to be an anatomically absurd 200 cm/6'5"+ to maintain their in-game visual contrast. Gatrie being an armor knight is most likely the one sitting around 185–188 cm/6'1"–6'2" as a tank. When considering the medieval reality, war logistics and biology, this size for a backflipping warrior/berserker mix archetype just doesn't make sense. Historically, the average height for European men in such settings ranged from 165 to 172 cm (5'5" to 5'8"). In the context of an anime game, the average character scale across the board would realistically be between 155 cm and 175 cm (5'1" to 5'9"). Maintaining a 191 cm/6'3" body packed with pure bodybuilder muscle mass requires an immense daily intake of calories. In a war where mercenaries march for days on iron rations and local food, such a massive physique is a severe biological liability, not an asset. It would cause rapid exhaustion and muscle wasting. Marching long distances and fighting in heavy gear requires optimal energy efficiency. A compact, highly dense muscle frame is far more lethal and sustainable in long campaigns than a massive frame that constantly demands immense energy. I think they tried to create a strong gameplay contrast between the lightweight-fencer Marth (historically estimated around 170–173 cm / 5'7"–5'8") and Ike, so they exaggerated Ike's weight, sluggishness, and mass. Although for a Smash Bros character (when being compared to characters like Pikachu and others) ~80 kg + armor is definitely a heavy weight class, players probably mistakenly imported this specific crossover balancing choice back into the core lore of the Tellius games. Smaller Characters (Soren, Mist, Elincia): 155–165 cm / 5'1"–5'5" represent the average, non-combat-focused or agile spellcasting builds. Titania: 172–175 cm / 5'8"–5'9". For a medieval woman, this makes her an exceptionally tall, commanding, and imposing presence on the battlefield, especially atop a warhorse, without breaking anatomical realism. Ike (Path of Radiance): ~174 cm / 5'8.5" and 70–73 kg / 154–160 lbs. A lean, athletic, and wire-thin 17-year-old squire fighting with speed. Ike (Radiant Dawn): ~180 cm/5'11". After a three-year growth spurt and intense training, he hits the absolute peak physical "sweet spot" for an elite warrior. Ike's final form after Vanguard graduation is probably around 85–90 kg/187–198 lbs. Gatrie/Black Knight: 185–190 cm/6'1"–6'3". Towering nearly half a head over Ike, cementing their status as the genuine heavy juggernauts of the game. Ike is a powerhouse, but his strength lies in a dense, optimally proportioned, and highly efficient athletic frame. I think turning him into a 191 cm/6'4" modern bodybuilder ignores the harsh realities of medieval warfare, his own established class archetypes, and basic biological logistics. A solid 180cm/5'11" would make him a giant among his friends while keeping him the versatile, enduring hero he was always meant to be. His later slower, tank-like presence and features probably came from a combination of comparison to smaller, more agile fencer-type characters like Marth and Roy + in-game balancing. But I think lore-wise, he probably has a solid mix of everything and is just an extremely powerful, but also versatile character.

Now there were two somewhat valid points in the comments. One said that modern day athletes reach peak speed/explosivity despite their extreme size, but I personally just wouldn't compare the character of a medieval fantasy game, who walks half a day with an army in a war to a peak performance modern day athlete. First of all, it's questionable if heavyweight athletes could perform in a fight after walking a lot and barely recovering. There'd just be things like muscle cramps and stuff at some point. Comparing medieval fantasy warriors to modern day people, they'd be closer to soldiers and (if more technical in close combat) fighters. The other point was that we should let fantasy be fantasy. While I'm also enjoying fictional hypermasculinity sometimes (my muscular GW2 berserker and the thumbnails just serve the traits of my malignant narcissism), I ultimately have to disagree. Any fantasy setting needs appropriate world building. If orcs move likes elves without any magic which would for example reduce their weight, then what's the point of making different characters in the first place?

My current goal is to stick to an athletic and more realistic image in the future. Whether it's the body I aim for in real life or my ingame characters in games. Starting from now, I will try to visualize realism instead of fictional hypermasculinity.